Apparatus and method for vaporizing butane



Feb. 14, 1961 G. J. BALL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR VAPORIZING BUTANE Filed May 20, 1958 R. W 0 Lb! 2 m a A I E v mm v NM 7 N wk m B 1 w H 4 A 7/x x v 407 90 J ,7 I z 1 1 L- Q Tl! L L a E e W V E W mm a I l m6 6 Y \l|\\ B r I I 1 a l! I l I 1 4 1 A vb @N R Unite States Patent APPARATUS AND" METHOD FOR VAPORIZING BUTAN-E Grover: J. Ball, Box 661, Tiog'a, N. Dak.

FiIed May-ZO, 1958, Ser. No. 736,484 r 4.Claims., (CI. 62-53) This invention comprisesa novel and useful apparatus andmethod' for vaporizing butane and more particularly relates to the use of butane as a fuel for-internal combustion engines and thelike in extremely cold weather.

Owing to the difliculty of vaporizing liquified petroleum gases known as,L. P.;G. in very, coldweather for use as fuels in internal combustion engines and the like, it has been heretofore necessary to employrelatively expensive fuel such as liquified pr'opane'instead ofthe considerably less expensive liquified butane when; extremely cold climates-as for-example down to minus 30 F;- are en countered. Inasmuch as liquified butane is readily economically available in many cold climates, it is extremely desirable that the use of the same as a fuel for internal combustion engines such as those powering drilling rigs be rendered available.

It is therefore the primary purpose of this invention to provide a method and an apparatus which will facilitate and render practical the use of liquified butane as a fuel for internal combustion engines such as those powering drilling rigs in extremely cold climates.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and a method in accordance with the foregoing object which shall be effective to vaporize a portion of the butane in a storage tank to thus produce and maintain a vapor pressure in the tank to facilitate the feeding of liquid butane therefrom, and also to increase the heat content of the butane within the tank as a preliminary preparation of the liquid butane for the vaporization of the same.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

The single figure of the drawing illustrates diagrammatically an apparatus and a method whereby liquid butane may be vaporized and retained and stored under a substantial pressure whereby to facilitate feeding of the butane and to facilitate vaporization and using of the butane as a fuel by an internal combustion engine and the like.

In the system for vaporizing liquid butane for use as a mode of fuel in accordance with this invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the numeral designates a storage tank for liquid butane having a pressure gauge 12 thereon. An inlet conduit 14 provided with a non-return check valve 16 of any desired type constitutes a means by which liquid butane may be supplied to this tank as from a truck or other container as required. Shown at 18 is a discharge conduit provided with a non-return check valve 20 by which liquid butane is withdrawn from the tank for a purpose and in a manner to be subsequently described.

Designated generally by the numeral 22 is a vaporizer by means of which liquid butane is heated and vaporized to thus raise the heat content of the butane and also to supply a vapor pressure to the storage tank 10." Although the vaporizer-may be of any desired construction, it is preferred to form the same as a central vaporizer chamber. consisting of apipe or conduit 24. which is closed at its opposite ends as at 26=and 218 respectively and which inuturn issurrounded by .a diametrically larger pipe 30 comprising aheating jacket enclosing thevaporizing chamber 24. A jacket ofheat insulating. material as at 32 surroundstheheating jacket'30 and in turn is I1Cl0S8di in an outer casingor housing 34.

A heating fluid is supplied to. and circulates through the heating jacket 30, andfor this purpose any suitable=fluid heating medium may be employed; Conveniently, a. steam boiler 36 of. conventional design isutilized; the.

same receivingwatersthrough ajsupply conduit 38 from a water storage tank 40, and. delivering the sameby a' conduit 42 having a non-return check valve '44 therein.

and a, pressure regulator valve 46, which conduit discharges intoithe jacket.30 at one end thereof. At' the other end a, steam discharge conduit 48 returns the heating. fluid to the storage tank 40': for: recirculation and:

Liquids'butanei supplied into the vaporizer chamber 24;-

armeans. who! subsequently. set forth, is; vaporized non-return check valve 52 into the upper portion of the storage tank 10 where the same serves to (apply pressure to the liquid butane in this tank and also introduce heat thereinto which heat, absorbed by the liquid butane, will reduce the heat energy required to convert the latter into a vapor, especially in cold weather.

Liquid butane is withdrawn through the: delivery conduit 18 previously mentioned and supplies as desired to one or both of a pair of pumps 54 and 56 of any desired character and operated by any suitable means. These pumps serve to raise the pressure of the withdrawn liquid butane, and discharge the same by either of the conduits 58 and 60, or both, and having non-return check valves 62, to the delivery conduit 63. The latter is preferably provided with a pressure gauge 64 by which the pressure applied to the liquid butane may be readily ascertained. From the conduit 62, the liquid butane under the pressure imposed thereon by the series of pumps is delivered by a supply line 66 through a pressure regulating valve 68 to a source of use 70 which may comprise an internal combustion engine forming the power plant of a drilling rig or any other desired device for employing butane as a fuel. A pressure gauge 72 may be applied to this supply line 66.

The conduit 63 previously mentioned discharges through the end Wall 26 into the vaporizer chamber 24, there being provided a non-return check valve 74 therein together with a manual control valve 76.

The arrangement is such that the liquid butane delivered by the pumps to the conduit 63, which is in excess of the demand for butane of the apparatus 70 will pass into the vaporizer 24, be heated and vaporized therein, and be supplied to the top of the storage tank 10 as previously mentioned.

By way of example, it has been found satisfactory to maintain in the storage tank 10 a pressure of from to pounds and to maintain this pressurized butane at a temperature such that the same will readily vaporize even in 30 below temperature such as frequently encountered in North Dakota and the like.

Obviously the pair of pumps 54 and 56 may be adjusted to produce this pressure in the tank, or even apply a somewhat higher pressure to the butane delivered through the conduits 63 and 66 to the place of use 70.

As will be readily understood, the present invention provides a means and method whereby liquid butane may be satisfactorily employed as a fuel in very cold climates,

Patented Feb. 14, 19611 thus providing a very economical source of heat for hos- V pitals or other buildings which burn propane or fuel oil in place of the much cheaper butane, in oil well rig power plants and the like.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An apparatus for preparing butane for use as a liquid fuel in cold weather comprising a storage tank for butane, a vaporizer for evaporating liquid butane, means for continuously supplying heat from an external source to heat said vaporizer, a pump, means connecting the inlet side of said pump to said storage tank for receiv ing liquid butane from said tank, means including a delivery conduit connected to the discharge side of said pump for receiving liquid butane therefrom for supply to a service line, conduit means for discharging liquid butane from said pump discharge side into said vaporizer for evaporation therein, means for supplying vaporized butane from said vaporizer to said tank for raising the pressure and temperature of the liquid butane therein.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said vaporizer comprises an inner container having a liquid butane inlet means and a vaporized butane outlet means in opposite ends thereof, an outer container surrounding said inner container and comprising, a heating jacket therefor, said means for supplying heat including inlet and outlet means in opposite ends of said outer container connected to a heating system for circulating a heated fluid through said jacket at a suflicient temperature to vaporize the butane in said inner container.

3. The combination of claim 2 including valve means controlling relative flow of liquid butane from said pump delivery side to said vaporizer and to said delivery conduit whereby liquid fuel supplied from the delivery side of said pump in excess of the liquid fuel passing through said delivery conduit is discharged into said vaporizer.

4. The combination of claim 1 including valve means controlling relative flow of liquid butane from said pump delivery side to said vaporizer and to said delivery conduit whereby liquid fuel supplied from the delivery side of said pump in excess of the liquid fuel passing through said delivery conduit is discharged into said vaporizer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wilkinson June 29, 1954 

